North Carolina residents might be interested to hear that more charges were filed against a 32-year-old man who was driving an SUV that hit a motorcyclist. The accident occurred on Highway 17 on Barden Street on the evening of Aug. 19.
The man was driving a 2009 Ford Flex SUV north on Highway 17, and he was attempting to make a left turn from the center lane of the highway onto Barden Street. A 2012 Harley Davidson was going south on the highway when the man was attempting to turn. He failed to yield to the motorcycle. Consequently, the motorcycle ran into the SUV when the SUV turned in front of it. The fatal car accident resulted in the death of the 21-year-old motorcyclist.
A 21-year-old woman was a passenger on the motorcycle, and she was airlifted to a nearby hospital with serious injuries. At last report, her condition was fair. The driver of the SUV was initially charged with driving while intoxicated and a safe movement violation causing serious injury to a motorcyclist. Now, felony death by vehicle and felony serious injury by vehicle have been added to his list of charges.
The driver of the SUV could also face civil lawsuits in addition to his criminal charges. The motorcycle passenger who was injured could decide to file a personal injury lawsuit against him, and the family of the deceased motorcyclist could choose to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
A personal injury lawyer might be able to help the people wanting to file claims in the incident prepare their statements and determine a fair amount of compensation to request. For example, the family of the deceased motorcyclist could request compensation for the psychological damage they have incurred because of the death of their loved one.
Source: WNCT 9, “Additional charges filed against SUV operator in fatal Jacksonville motorcycle accident”, August 14, 2013
